7 Ways to Sell Your Story (Script, Book, Stage Play or Podcast) to "Hollywood" (2024)

FAQs

Where can I send my script in Hollywood? ›

They list film writers making anywhere between $100,000 to $1M to sell a feature-length script to a major studio or production company. Successful and established film writers can net between $2-$5M for spec scripts when you include residuals and producer earnings!

Sci-Fi, Comedy and Drama

Four horror scripts were sold last year as well as four thriller scripts. Three action scripts and one family genre script also sold in 2018. The takeaway from Myers is that the film genres of sci-fi, comedy and drama are the biggest draws in the Hollywood marketplace.

Hollywood Studios are looking for an angle into a marketable project, and pitching a highly original concept for a story that hasn't been told before is a new writer/filmmaker's best bet at selling a movie idea.

How hard is it to sell a screenplay, anyway? According to writers, managers, and agents involved in greenlighting screenplays, there's a five to 20 percent chance of a screenplay being accepted and sold, says Script Magazine. Admittedly, those acceptance rates are pretty low, but that doesn't mean you should give up!

Selling a script takes a lot of hard work, loads of planning, and little luck, but the good news is that people sell scripts every day. Hollywood is hungry for fresh voices and new stories. And while it can be challenging to get traction for your screenplay, there is a market for your script.

First and foremost, thank you for your interest in Netflix content! Unfortunately, we cannot and do not accept or review any materials (whether manuscripts, treatments, scripts, drawings, ideas, pics of rainbow-colored unicorns, etc.)

Amazon Studios' prior policy, until today, stated it had the exclusive right to buy a movie script for $200,000 or TV script for $55,000 from the day it's uploaded up to 45 days out. It can then pay $10,000 to extend that option for 18 months, which it can do up to two times, according to its FAQ.

The average? Around $110,000. There are different WGA minimums for everything, from a 15-minute episode of television, to selling a movie script, to a big budget feature film. Even then, those are divided into different prices.

Who is buying scripts? ›

Other than major studios, there are really only two categories of buyers: production companies and independent producers. There are other people who don't buy scripts but who can help you sell them. These include directors, actors, distributors and their entertainment attorneys.

But on average, expect between $40-$60. However, if you're a union story analyst, you'll be making the union minimums — $43 per hour (average of a few hours to read a script and writer coverage) and/or $1750 weekly if you're an in-house story analyst.

You need to get the script written, develop it into the best possible draft, take it to directors and actors that you feel would create a desirable package for studios, and then see what comes together. Producers don't get paid until the studios or distributors buy into the package and then pay up.

One of the most effective ways to get a screenwriting agent are finding agents who are accepting submissions and sending them powerful query letters. You can also attend screenwriting conferences and summits, submit your work to online pitch sites and screenwriting competitions, and attend film festivals.

"Netflix only accepts submissions through a licensed literary agent or from a producer, attorney, manager, or entertainment executive with whom we have a preexisting relationship. Any idea that is submitted by other means is considered an unsolicited submission...

How Long Should a Screenplay Be? In a screenplay, one page roughly equates to one minute of screen time. This means that as a general rule of thumb, screenplays typically run from 90 to 120 pages long. Screenplays are made up of many scenes, and each scene can be as short as half a page or as long as ten pages.

How can I submit an idea for a movie or show to HBO? We do not accept submissions directly; all submissions to HBO must come through an agent.

Does Disney buy scripts? ›

It is our Company's policy not to accept unsolicited submissions of creative material, including, but not limited to, scripts, artwork, and product prototypes.

As Netflix is a WGA signatory, they have to abide by the guidelines set forth by the Writer's Guild Schedule of Minimums. That means, for a single draft of an original screenplay, Netflix pays $42,138 for a script, with compensation only going up from there.

Amazon Studios is no longer accepting submissions, but I have a script, mini-bible, or video that I would like to submit. What are my next steps? While we will no longer accept new submissions, there are other options.

Hour-long (network) = 44-45 pages. Hour-long (premium channel) = 55-65 pages. Hour-long (streaming) = 55-65 pages. Half-hour (single-camera) = 30-35 pages.

Generally speaking, hour-long episode scripts can be anywhere from 45-63 pages, although a majority of the time you want to stick with 50-55 pages. The basic sense of it is that one page equals one minute, and with a 60-minute show, you obviously need to account for commercial breaks.

THEY say that a script's length in pages is an approximation of its film's length in minutes. So a 187 page script 'would' be a three hour film.

But contrary to the old adage that 1 page of script equals 1 minute of screen time, a 30-minute multi-camera (sitcom) script is usually around 45 pages, a 30-minute single camera script is around 34 pages, and a 1-hour drama script can be as short as 45 pages (Nip Tuck) or as long as 80 pages (Gilmore Girls.)

Almost every single writer, and filmmaker dreams of turning their story into a screen adaptation. Netflix may generate an idea internally and hire creatives to develop those ideas further. Netflix employs a team of creative executives and buyers, who receive pitches for content.

Screenplays are products and to sell one, you need a literary agent. Some writers get by with just lawyers, but if you're a new writer, you'll likely want to start by getting a manager. A manager who believes in you will be able to refer you to agents with whom they have relationships.

Where can I sell my scripts online? ›

Filmmakers have made more than 400 movies from writers and scripts they found on InkTip. After signing up, you'll be able to add your scripts to your Script Library and become an InkTip Pro member.

“Screenwriters can make as little as $25,000 to $30,000 a year doing very small jobs if they're members of the WGA. They can make millions of dollars a year if they are an in-demand screenwriter willing to do rewrites.

They will sign a contract with a certain agreed-upon payment, which will be stretched into various drafts and deadlines. Any writer can be fired after one draft. If that happens — whether you are the original writer or were assigned to rewrite a screenplay — you'll get paid a fraction of the final payment agreement.

Rates typically charged by screenwriters on Upwork are: Beginner: $30 per hour. Intermediate: $46 per hour. Advanced: $95 per hour.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the national average salary for writers and authors, a career path that encompasses screenwriters, is $67,120 per year .

A script reader's salary range depends on their position: Interns are usually unpaid positions, while entry-level freelancers earn between twenty-five and sixty dollars per script based on their level of experience. However, union story analysts receive union minimums of around forty dollars per hour on average.

Yes, spec script sales still happen. Yes, they are bought and produced every year. Yes, screenwriters can still make six to seven figures on a spec sale.